Huge crowds expected for the Christmas Fayre in Bury St Edmunds
Sharon Fairweather, with some of her team in the Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds, ahead of the town's annual Christmas Fayre. Left to right, Colin Taylor, from the events team; Steven Ainsworth and Luke Patterson, gardeners; Graham Maynard, park manager; and Edward O'Brien, gardener. - Credit: Archant
With the clock ticking last minute plans are being made for the annual Bury St Edmunds Christmas Fayre which is set to attract record crowds this year.
Re-inforced flooring has been laid in the Abbey Gardens, lighting is being set up and the stalls are all set to be put in place all over the town by later tomorrow.
It is covering a huge area of the town centre including the gardens, the Athenaeum, Angel Hill, Hatter Street, St John’s Street, The Traverse, the Cathedral car park, the Arc Shopping Centre and also features the street market in and around the Buttermarket and the Cornhill plus a farmers market.
There will be entertainment on two stages on Angel Hill and in The Traverse and with 120,000 people attending last year organisers are expecting that to be either equalled or increased as 300 stalls are featured in the event which runs from Thursday afternoon through to Sunday.
Some of the finest chefs from across East Anglia will be showing festive flair at the fayre at the cookery theatre which takes place in the Cathedral Courtyard.
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Event manager Sharon Fairweather said: “It does help to show off the town and all it has to offer and what a wonderful place it is to live which should make us feel proud.”
This year is the 10th year of her running the fayre but she was full of praise for the huge number of people who help with the event from gardening staff to employees at the borough council and businesses to volunteers.
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“There’s a lot of people who work very hard and help us to make this such a great event and one of the top 10 fayres in the country. We know it does cause some displacement for people but hope the town will come out and support us as this great event is on their doorstep.
“It does show that Bury is such a wonderful clean place and a lovely place to live and many visitors wish they could have something similar in their towns and cities.”
There will be increased police presence with some armed officers and dogs on patrol to keep the crowds safe and secure.
Along with her team of helpers they started work on Monday and they will be flat out right through to the close of the event Sunday.
It all starts from 2pm with a latern parade at 5pm, followed by the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) Carol Concert in St Edmundsbury Cathedral at 6pm, and fireworks in the Abbey Gardens at 7.45pm.
The fayre then resumes from at 9am to 8pm on both the Friday and Saturday, and from 10am to 5pm on the Sunday.
For full details go to the website www.burystedmundschristmasfayre.co.uk
